Baptist Health System-affiliated orthopedic surgeon David Fox, M.D., and patient Karen Camargo are all smiles knowing that Carmago can keep dancing with a new knee implant designed to last twice as long as previous implants.

Recent advances by researchers have opened a new chapter in high-performance knee replacement surgery. The world’s first knee implant tested to simulate 30 years of wear was just approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in April of this year and is being used at Northeast Baptist Hospital.

“After 10 to 15 years, a common issue with knee replacements is what surgeons refer to as ‘wear,’ which can often result in the need for a second knee replacement,” says orthopedicsurgeon David Fox, M.D. “This new implant gives patients the confidence that they are not going to need another surgery.”

The Legion Knee with Verilast Technology has been tested to last more than twice the length of knee replacements made with traditional materials. 53-year-old Karen Camargo, a former sheriff’s deputy, recently had knee replacement surgery at Northeast Baptist Hospital. She had been injured in a car accident while on duty in 1986, and over the years the pain got worse and her mobility was seriously diminished. Camargo’s surgeon used the Legion implant because she is so young.

“I had gone to another orthopedist who told me that I was too young to have a knee replacement, so I was stuck just living with the pain and the fact that I couldn’t do many of the things I love anymore, like dancing,” says Camargo. “Some coworkers told me about Dr. Fox, so I went to see him and was so pleased that he was not only able to get rid of my pain, but get me back to dancing again … and not just for 10 years, but for 30!”

Camargo says she never had any pain after surgery, “except when I did it to myself by going so hard in physical therapy.”  She says the hospital experience was kind of like a party. “The nurses would come into my room at night and just hang out. We laughed and I even got some of their e-mail addresses so we can stay in touch.”

What’s next for Camargo? “Well, I’m going to get the other knee done next. But first I’m going to do a lot of dancing and get back to the gym and work out again. My daughter is in the Air Force stationed in Germany, and I haven’t seen her for two years. She’s coming home soon, and I can’t wait for her to see the new me.”

Learn More About 30 Year Legion Knee with Verilast Technology